Interlocking switch



Jan. 3l, 1933. Q E REEVES INTERLOCKING swITcH Filed Feb. '14, 1930 STARTER ci RcuIT IGNITION CHIS-UIT STARTER CIRCUIT IGNITION gwxnntoz CIRLUIT STARTER f IRcun IGNITION CIRCUIT or without first breaking Figuiisaview in t e Patented Jan. 3l, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE This invention relates to a starting switch for motor vehicles and has particular reference to that t pe disclosed in my copending application ed October 18, 1929, Serial No.

closed and set forth an inter ocking switch -for preventing the operation of the self r while the engine was in motion, which interlock was eected through an electric circuit. The present invention has for its primary aim to provide a mechanical interlock to thwart or frustrate any attempt to close the starter circuit while the engine is in motion, the ignition circuit 'before again closing the starter circuit. The invention further resides in means for compelling the movement of the ignition switch to an of position after a starting operation has once been eected and preliminary to eecting a subsequent starting operation.

In the drawin Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic sectional view illustrating the improved switch mechanism in its o position.

Fig. 2 is a transverse section therethrou h immediatel behind the front wall of t e casing, fur er disclosing the relation of parts in their 0R position.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view similar to 1 but depicting the parts as the switch control is being moved past the running position as occasioned by a startin operation.

similar to ig. 3 illustratparts in their starting position.

ferring more in detail to the accompanydrawing, the numeral 1 designates a switch control which in the present showin is in the form of a lever fulcrumed at 2 an having a work arm 3 provided with a cam surface 4 for camming against the movable switch element 5 of the ignition switch 6 from which the ignition circuit wires 7 lead. The control lis also desi ed for closing a starter circuit switch hereln depicted as comprising a fixed contact 8 and a movable contact 9 which latter is coupled to the work arm 3 by a link 10, the circuit wires 11 of the starter circuit being properly connected to the respective contacts 8 and 9. The dif- In this copending application I disin Fig. 3.

A ock 13 is arranged and mounted for movement into a position for obstructing movement of the control from the on or runnin position back to the starting sition to rustrate any attempt to again c ose the starter clrcuit after the engine has once been set in motion. This lock or latch is convenientl mounted on a resilient sup ort 14 whic normally urges the latch over Into the path of the cont-rol 1.

Means are provided for preventing functioning of the latch upon movement of the control from off position to the starting position, which means in the present showing is of a mechanical nature and comprises a keeper plate 15 movably mounted for movement from an operative to an inoperative position and vice versa, the mounting herein shown being a pivotal one and consisting preferably of the fulcrum 2 so that the keeper plate and the control have a coaxial mounting. The plate 15 has a keeper part 16 designed for riding down on the beveled face of the latch 13 to cam or shift the same laterally from the path of movement of the control 1. When this keeper part 16 is moved out of engagement with the latch 13 the latter is free to return to a control obstructing position indicated by the dotted showing 13 in Fig. 2. As a means for moving the keeper plate to itsl operative position when the control is moved to an oil' position there is provided a play connection between the keeper late and the control which is herein depicte as consisting of a stop shoulder 17 carried by the keeper plate 15 and extending into the path of the control lever. There is also provided a Stop shoulder 18 on the plate 15 for extending into the path of the control lever at the opposite side thereof so that when the control is moved from its oif position to its starting position dotted showing 16 in Fig. 3 and by the full line showing in Fig. 4. `Such movement.

brings the sto shoulder 17 into a position for being engaged) by the controlshou d the latter be returned to an oft' position from its on or running position thereby insuring an operative movement of the keeper part 16 to shift the latch from its operative position.

In practice the switch mechanism may be arranged in any suitable position on the motor vehicle such as in a housing 19 disposed at the rear of the instrument board or panel 20 the latter serving as the front wall of the housing or switch box if desired and provided with a slot 21 through which the control 1 projects to a position readily accessible to the motorist. With the parts arranged in their relative positions depicted in Fig. 1 the control is lifted through the on or running position indicated in Fig. 3 to the starting position of Fig. 4. At the start of this movement the latch 13 is Withheld from its operative position by the keeper part 16 and is released as the control is moved beyond the running position to the starting position by reason of the engagement of said control with the stop shoulder 18. -The starter circuit being closed the motor vehicle engine is set in operation and the control returned to the on position indicated in Fig. 3 either manually or by `other means, such as the spring 12. When returned to the running position the control 1 cams against the latch 13 and moves thereby whereupon said latch returns to an overhanging posltion for obstructing a return movement of the control to the starting position. The control is therefore confined between the movement obstructing latch 13 and' the stop shoulder 17. Return movement to a starting position is therefore prevented while movement to the off position is permitted.

The motorist is therefore compelled to return the control to a-full 0E position before again attempting to bring into operation the starter, and as the control is moved to the oil position the cooperation of the stop shoulder 17 with the control brings the keeper 16 down against the latch 13 to shift it from the control obstructing position whereupon the control is free to move again to the starting position. v

What is claimed is:

1. Control means `for an internal combustion engine having an ignition circuit and a starter mechanism, comprising a switch for said circuit and a switch forsaidl mechanism, and means enforcing opening of the ignition circuit after once the engine has been started and preliminary to again closing the starting switch.

2., Control means for an internal combustion engine having an ignition circuit and a starting motor circuit, comprising a control common to both circuits, and means for preventing movement of the control to a starting position after the engine has once been started and without lirst rendering the ignition circuit inoperative.

3. A combined starting and ignition control for motor vehicles comprising an ignition switch and a starter switch, a control movable from an oil position iirst to a position for closing the ignition switch and then to a second position for closing the starter switch, said control being returned to the first position from the second position, and means operable by the control member for preventing return movement of the latter to the second position preliminary to returning said control to its olf position.

4. A combined starting and ignition con- Y trol Jfor motor vehicles comprising an ignition switch and a starter switch, a control movable from an oil? position lirst to a positionfor closing both switches and then to a second position for opening the starter switch only, a latch for preventing return movement of the control member from its second position to its first position, and means for rendering said latch inoperative for permitting such control movement from an off position.

- 5. Control means for an internal combustion engine having an ignition circuit and a starting circuit, comprising a control movable from an olf position through a running position in which the ignition circuit is closed to a starting position in which the both cirtive position for obstructing movement of the control from the running to the starting position, a keeper having play connection with the control and positionable thereby during movement of the latter from the starting to the running position to render the latch operative.

6. An interlock switch for motor vehicles comprising a pivotally mounted control lever movable from an off position through a running position to a starting position and vice versa,an ignition switch closed by and during movement of the lever from oil' position to its running position, astarting switch closed by and during movement of the lever from the running position to the starting position, means normally disposed in a position for obstructing movement of the lever from running position to the starting position, a keeper acting in its operative position to hold said means inoperative, and means connecting the lever to the keeper for rendering the latter inoperative by and during movement of the lever from its running position to its starting position whereby upon return of the lever to its running position said iirst means will function to prevent return movement of the lever to its starting position.

Lacasse 7. An interlock switch for motor vehicles comprising a pivotally mounted control lever movable from an olf position through a running position to a starting position and lvice versa, anignition switch closed by and during movement of the lever from olf position to its running position, a starting switch closed by and during movement of the lever from the running position to the starting position, means normally disposed in a tion for obstructing movement of the ever from running position to the starting position, a'keeper acting in its operative osition to hold said means inoperative, an means connecting the lever to the keeper for rendering the latter inoperative by and during movement of the lever from its running position to its starting position whereby upon return of the lever to its running position said means will function to prevent return movement of the lever to its starting position, and means for returning the keeper to its operative position by and during movement of the lever from its running position' to its of position.

8. An interlock switch for motor vehicles comprising a pivotally mounted control lever movable from an ofi' position through a running position to a starting position and vice versa, an ignition switch closed by and during movement of the lever from of position to its running position, a starting switch closed by and during movement of the lever from the running position to the Starting position, means normally disposed in a movement of the keeper toits operative position upon movement of the leverfrom its running to its o tion.

10. A starting and ignition control for an internal combustion engine, comprising an ignition switch and a starter switch, means for opening and closing said switches, and means operative for reventing the first mentioned means from c osing the starter switch said second mentioned means being render inoperative upon opening of the ignition switch.

11. A starting and ignition control for an engine having starting and ignition circuits, comprising means for opening and closing said circuits, means operative for holding the first mentioned means against closing the starting circuit, said second mentioned means being rendered inoperative upon opening of the ignition circuit.

CUTHBERT E. REEVES.

tion for obstructing movement of the ever f from runnin position to the starting position, and a eeper normally acting in its operative position and when the lever is in its o6 position to hold said means inoperative.

9. An interlock'switch for motor vehicles comprising a pivotally mounted control lever movable from an oil position through a running position to a starting position and vice versa, an ignition switch closed by and during movement of the lever from o position to its running position, a starting switch closed by and during movement of the lever from the running position to the starting 'tion, a latch, means urgin the latch to a ever obstructin position or obstructin movement of the lever from the runn' position to the starting tion, a keeper plate pivoted coaxially wi the lever and having a part for camming against the latch to move and hold it inoperative, and stop parte on the plate at opposite sides of the ever for alternate engagement thereby for moving the keeper to an inoperative` `tion upon initial movement of the lever a running to a startin position, said shoulders being spaced ciently to permit retprn movement of the lever to a position independently of the' plate but insuring 

